Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

1. The ascent to Ooty. Not for the faint hearted - a 2 hour slog up hill but a great sense of achievement at the end. 2. The descent from Ooty - an amazing and beautiful downhill ride crossing over into Kerala.3. Sunset on the houseboat; early morning on the houseboat

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group was led by 3 incredibly patient people - Vishnu, the main group leader; Safi - main bike man; and Shibu in the bus. They worked really hard behind the scenes to ensure we could relax as much as possible, and nothing was too much trouble for them. Putting away bikes each night, getting them out and loaded with new water bottles each morning, organising and running the kitty for meals and tips, and looking after us at our frequent coffee/tea stops en route.  They deserve particular thanks for the way they coped when, due to an unfortunate and serious accident one of our group had to be taken to hospital. Vishnu stayed with them at the hospital for a few days and Safi took on the role of group leader as well as main bike man.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The hotel at Ooty was freezing cold - take some warm clothes, ask for an electric heater for your room. Best options for your free afternoon in Ooty are the Botanical Gardens or the Rose Garden. If you are not sure about the trip to the Orphanage - do go. It is not at all voyeuristic and the children at the orphanage will be excited to see you, and at the end you can make a donation if you wish.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the houseboat. For the first time in many years I actually relaxed and watched the world go by. It helps to have some of the most genuinely lovely people we met on the trip on the same boat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vishna was excellent - however one of our party did have a serious accident and had to be hospitalised and flown home so Vish left us to take care of her and her partner. So we had to put up with Safi! I jest. He was brilliant - what an extraordinarily happy man! Quite infectious. Whenever I hear a bike bell ring I shall think of him....

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you have asthma please ensure you have what you need with you and get a breathable face mask. There are no panniers on the bike so, if you have a fancy pants camera like me, you could invest in a camera holder which attaches to the front of the bike. I had to use a rucksack which was hot and heavy.If you can, spend an extra couple of days at Varkala at the end - it really is a lovely beach with great seafood, generally hassle free shops and beer oddly wrapped in newspaper so the locals aren't offended.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyday offered a moment of inspiration! Overall, the colour and energy of India is so inspirational. The place is so full of life and character. This trips offers one the opportunity to have a sticky beak in the daily life of people in southern India. I was totally amazed when we started to explore the remote lane ways outside Guruvayor. This day made me realise how much work and thought went into the planning of this trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader, Vish, was good and very knowledgeable about history. However, he didn't love cycling as much as the group ;-) Joseph - the cycle leader was absolutely wonderful. He had a lovely nature and was very interested in the lives of people in the group. At the end, he circulated a comments book which he and the driver (Shibu) keep as a memento of their travels. Usually, you'd think it was hum drum for them but it made me realise that these trips enrich their lives too.Shibu was an awesome driver and bike mechanic. He was always up bright and early tending to our bikes. His amazing, happy smile was always a great start to our day!  Shibu was always helpful and if we asked for anything, he was quicky to help us.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a gel seat! The bikes were fantastic but the seats were the slim-lined types which hurt your butt after a day. Try the semolina pudding with cashews and sultanas (called Kesari). It is served for breakfast at the lodge we stay at Bundapur National Park and totally rocks!! Semolina has never ever tasted so good and it was my stand-out meal.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling up Otty Spending time at the Orphanage - with children happy to see you and speak to you Feeling famous - everyone saying "Hello" "Where you come from?" "Where you going?", having our photos taken by the locals  and being in the local paper - news article of our trip because of a serindipidous moment. Houseboat - relaxation and woderful views

Thoughts on Group Leader

we really had three - although Vishnu was the leader, the whole experience was enhanced by Joseph as bike leader and Shibu as driver/ waterman / bike repair man - they made a great team and made our trip a fantastic experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go on this trip No need to cover up - as suggested in brochure/ trip notes- as a female - vest tops and cycle shorts were fine except in Mysore Palace and around the elephant tour linked to the Temple

Most Inspirational Moment

On the cycling side the 13k climb to Ooty and the 23k descent the following day. Hard to pick otherwise but particlarly enjoyed the moment when one of the ferry's was on strike and we had to hire a fishing boat and get our bikes into the hold.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Visnu was a font of knowledge on tour, with us at all times explaining what was happening around us. He also ran a whip so that he could organise all our food and tea stops for us. It worked out very cheap and easy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Find the time to do this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are lots of highlights on this trip.  But I think the best bit was reaching the top of the hill at Ooty, after climbing up the 36 hairpin bends.  Down the hill the next day is also a great ride as there are 45 km of downhill. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leaders and driver (Vishnu, Joseph and Shibu) on the trip were great.  They're all really friendly and together they are a great feature of the holiday. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

I really didn't have a bad moment on the whole trip.  Get stuck into the cycling, and into the curry and Kingfisher lagers too.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is difficult to pinpoint any one inspirational moment, it was all good! Maybe seeing the Indian Ocean for the first time.  The houseboat was a lovely way to relax as well, with some stunning scenery. The landscape and people were fabulous - there always was something interesting to look at. Varkala was a great place to end on as well.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All of them were very good. Shibu was excellent company on the day I was ill (due to a massive cold, not 'Delhi Belly'! and both Saffi and Joseph were excellent cyclists. Joseph in particular was very kind and patient!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be relatively fit....it is easy to think that this is a holiday, how tough can it be?...It wasn't that difficult and I don't cycle regularly, but I couldn't have done it without gym/spin sessions etc.  Even with that, I didn't bother cycling up Ooty Hill...gave it a go and then ended up walking, which was a slightly easier option! Be prepared to chat to people as you are cycling, especially motorcyclists...and the endless kids!

Most Inspirational Moment

So much of it. Seeing so many locals running out of their houses to greet us every mile of the way. We didn't see another westerner for 12 days. The food was varied, mostly good and fun. WE SAW A TIGER!!! Our guides didn't come on the safari and were dead jealous when we got back as they had never seen one. You really get to see India and its cultures...cycling around little back lanes with music piping out from churches & mosques. Held a snake. Stopped at lots of little 'coffee shops' (not exactly Costa Coffee so don't expect it) where we sat around with locals. Without exception every person we encountered was friendly and happy to see us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi, Joe and Shebu were the key to the success of this tour. After day one they were like family...friendly, helpful, encouraging, sympathetic, empathetic, funny, the list could go on for ever. The quality of these guys can not be understated in their quest to make this a wonderful experience for us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We all got saddle sore (still take a gell saddle though) but after the first 2 km each day you just forgot about it. We also had varying degrees of stomach problems but again everyone just accepted it was part of India and it didn't really spoil the fun at all. Ours was the first trip in August and the weather was ideal for biking. Mostly around 30 degrees and occasional rain to cool you and have fun cycling through.The 14 of us in our group was made up of some late 20s, 30s, 40s and us 2 in our mid 50s. Although we are not cyclists and struggled on days 1 and 4, everyone was great and each had their day of triumph. It was not a race and it was not an ordeal...we walked (with 2 others) up Ooty Hill as we couldn't cycle it. The bikes went on the van. It took us 4 hours but it was okay and we were cheered when we got to the top.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Ooty was a great achievement, having counted every one of the 36 hairpin bends on the way up! We were also very lucky to see a tiger while on the jeep safari in the National Park which was fantastic. Another enjoyable morning was cycling through the heavy rain and trying to cycle through an almost foot deep flood! The houseboats on the backwaters were also fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leaders Safi and Joseph and our backup driver Shibu were all superb. They were very knowledgable of the area and did everything they could to ensure we were happy with the trip. They were very diligent in looking after and maintaining the bicycles. Safi gave us a run down on the following day each evening after dinner and gave us directions each morning on the day's cycle.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No need to bring bicycles from home as the bicycles used are of excellent quality. Would recommend bringing a gel saddle or saddle cover from home as some days are quite long.Safi suggested a group kitty which covered all tips and meals not included on the trip. This was a great idea as we all joined together for each meal and it saved all the hassle of splitting bills etc. We were also brought to some very different places to eat which we possibly wouldn't have gone into on our own.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

They did very well. It would have been nice if there would have been more oppourtunities to go / cycle your own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out on the food - our group was heavily suffering with stomach-/food-problems.